The Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) presents Anila Quayyum Agha: Geometry of Light from August 27, 2025 through April 19, 2026. In her Pacific Northwest debut, renowned contemporary artist Anila Quayyum Agha will mesmerize visitors with her ornate light and shadow installations inspired by Islamic and world art and architecture, inviting contemplation of identity and cultural belonging. Curated by José Carlos Diaz, SAM’s Susan Brotman Deputy Director for Art, this immersive exhibition will feature three of Agha’s illuminated sculptural installations, as well as a selection of framed mixed media works on paper.
“We are thrilled to be able to introduce the incredible work of Anila Quayyum Agha to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest for the first time,” said Scott Stulen, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Director and CEO of the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). “The inclusivity and intentional accessibility of Agha’s installations are harmonious with our mission to be a welcoming, community-oriented space for exploration at all our SAM locations. We are proud to bring the first solo exhibition of a Pakistani-American artist to SAM.”
Agha, born in Lahore, Pakistan and based in Indianapolis, is widely celebrated for her large-scale intricate metal installations that explore themes of cultural identity, gender, and the intersection of art, architecture, and spirituality. Agha’s steel cubes are laser-cut with intricate designs that project geometric shadows onto visitors and walls while suspended from the ceiling. By transforming typically masculine material, Agha reclaims the stereotype that delicate or feminine work is inferior.
Throughout her work, Agha draws inspiration from the detailed geometric patterns and motifs found in sacred spaces in Islamic and other world cultures, as well as the transformative power of light that filters through them. Through the use of light and color, the artist’s ornate designs have the ability to turn spaces into ethereal environments reminiscent of traditional sacred spaces through the use of lanterns or mashrabiya, wooden lattice screens that diffuse light, casting intricate shadows, while allowing for the flow of air and creating intimacy.
“Geometry of Light invites visitors to become part of the art,” said Diaz. “Agha draws from her life experiences and South Asian artistic practices to address global issues such as discrimination and immigration. She activates gallery spaces with light, transforming deeply personal reflections into geometric shadow patterns that evoke a universal sense of contemplation. We look forward to offering this opportunity to experience and connect with the evocative, spiritual spaces she creates.”
With three illuminated large-scale sculptural installations, Geometry of Light uses light and shadows to create a mesmerizing space and encourages visitors to reflect on cultural divides, inclusivity, and shared human experience. In addition to the immersive light and shadow installations, visitors will also be able to explore Agha’s intricate embroidered and beaded flatworks that harken to her roots as a textile artist.
In conjunction with the exhibition, SAAM will offer three drop-in art workshops inspired by the themes and techniques explored by Anila Quayyum Agha in Geometry of Light. The first workshop will take place on October 17 during the Seattle Asian Art Museum Open House, an event series that invites visitors to the museum after hours for an evening of fun and learning, followed by two additional workshops offered as part of the SAM Performs: Spinning Stories series on November 29 and January 31.
Read more on the Seattle Art Museum website.
Tagged 06/08.